jingo

American  

[jing-goh] / ˈdʒɪŋ goʊ /

noun

plural

jingoes

1. a person who professes their patriotism loudly and excessively, favoring vigilant preparedness for war and an aggressive foreign policy; bellicose chauvinist.

2. English History. a Conservative supporter of British Prime Minister Disraeli's policy in Turkey during the period 1877–78.

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adjective

1. of jingoes.

2. characterized by jingoism.

idioms

1. by jingo! (an exclamation used to emphasize the truth or importance of a foregoing statement, or to express astonishment, approval, etc.).

   I know you can do it, by jingo!

jingo British  

/ ˈdʒɪŋɡəʊ /

noun

1. a loud and bellicose patriot; chauvinist

2. jingoism

3. an exclamation of surprise

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Other Word Forms

• jingoish adjective

Etymology

Origin of jingo

First recorded in 1660–70; originally conjurer's call hey jingo! “appear! come forth!” (opposed to hey presto! hasten away!), taken into general use in the phrase by Jingo, euphemism for by God; chauvinistic sense from by Jingo in political song supporting use of British forces against Russia in 1878

Example Sentences

Despite winning the Nobel prize, Kipling's reputation has suffered over his association with British imperialism – he was described as a "jingo imperialist" by George Orwell, who also called him "the prophet of British Imperialism".

From The Guardian • Feb. 25, 2013

Photograph: EO Hoppe/Getty Images For George Orwell, Rudyard Kipling was "a jingo imperialist … morally insensitive and aesthetically disgusting".

From The Guardian • Jun. 21, 2012

Your twitter name, @edballsmp, might be factually accurate but, by jingo, it's dull.

From The Guardian • Apr. 3, 2011

Dead Man in the Silver Market* is ostensibly an autobiographical treatise on what happens to patriotic ardor when it becomes decadent and jingo.

From Time Magazine Archive

Donovan was back with the suits, “They’ve gone jingo on us, Greg. That’s a military march.”

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov